Keep kids in class until they're 18 - schools boss | Manchester Evening News

Keep kids in class until they're 18 - schools boss

November 10, 2006

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YOUNGSTERS could be forced to stay in education or training until the age of 18.

The proposal is part of moves to cut drop-out rates being examined by Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

Mr Johnson said it should be "unacceptable" for a 16-year old to be in a job and getting no help with qualifications or continued schooling. He noted that "very few" teenagers had taken up the right given to them by the government to force their employers to provide training.

And although new financial allowances had helped boost staying-on rates, they remained among the world's worst. He said: "Forty, 50, 60 years ago, seeing a 14-year-old at work was perfectly acceptable. Now it is totally unacceptable.

Training

"And it should be just as unacceptable to see a 16-year old just working and not doing anything else, not receiving any training or schooling."

The issue was the most important facing his department, he said.

He added: "It has all kinds of social ramifications for our citizens." He said the Tory politician Rab Butler had first proposed raising the age to 18 in the 1940s.

He said: "Butler had a vision. It's time for us now to introduce it 60 years after we should have."

DO you think school leaving age should be raised to 18? Have your say.

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Ms D, Manchester (10/11/2006 at 09:55)

It's a good idea. There are too many school leavers now walking around the streets not doing anything except claiming benefits and getting pregnant.

While they're at it, raise the age limits for driving as well. More kids in school and less accidents. Ideal.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (10/11/2006 at 10:21)

There are too many lazy loafer "live to loaf" school leavers at home who sit around watching daytime tv with their mums and dads,supping in the pub with their girlfriends and children,their girlfriends looking after children their boyfriends have played a part in creating, and scrounging off the state earning benefits and not a penny to show for it, earning a miserly poor and woefully inadequate state pension in old age, when they should be in jobs both earning the money and getting a life to support their children and living better at retirement.

Mike, Salford (10/11/2006 at 10:32)

Good idea but there is a massive problem in some areas of Manchester and Salford keeping kids in school until the age of 16. This problem will get worse if the kids are forced to stay at school until 18.
All we will do is move the problem down the line and 18 year olds will be leaving school with no quals and in to either unemployment or deadend low paid jobs.
The solution lies in more discipline and respect from both home and school.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (10/11/2006 at 11:06)

But Mike if you give them qualifications and set up things for them to earn those qualifications then by the time they get into the big bad world at 18 at least they're kitted up for life and are earning their keep rather than staying at home being a lazy minded loafer taking our taxes to pay for their benefits with an underage girlfriend and two kids to show for it, living a poor life and paying for it in old age with a miserly state pension and nothing to show for it.

Sue, Salford (10/11/2006 at 13:37)

Oh what a brilliant idea Alan Johnson. Can they all attend the schools that Labour MPs have their children at?

My niece was bullied up to the age of 16 at school by people who didn't want to receive education of any sort and these people are now wandering round and causing trouble, whilst my niece has gone onto further eduction and is studying for A Levels and hopes to become a nurse.

Let's keep these morons out of education but let the kids who are really interested in further education and let's also stop benefits for time wasters whilst we're at it.

Louise, Ashton (10/11/2006 at 16:19)

yet again a superb display of how out of touch with reality this government is!

LookingforLogic, manchester (10/11/2006 at 23:26)

In many cases kids who aren't suited to mainstream school have already been failed by the system by the time they are 14.

If they want to work at 14 we should be offering more support & alternative qualifications right upto the age of 18. Sadly most who stay in school are looking at a career in the local supermarket, with no other options that they're aware of.

There are alternatives available, unfortunately while the schools continue to lie about attendance rates while ignoring anyone who needs extra help & connexions pay their lipservice in box ticking, many are slipping through the net. Again.

Everyone of our students under 18 should have guidance to find the best education for their needs... I wonder what the true percentage is of young people who can't read or write 'properly' by the age of 16.

All thanks to those up there who make decisions without listening to the students or those who work with them outside 'mainsream' school.

JUNE, MANCHESTER (16/11/2006 at 14:11)

A great idea it works in the States and Europe why not here?

Jack Powell, Stoke (14/12/2006 at 11:44)

I think it should be raised for lots of reasons. It will reduce crime as they'll have something to occupy time. This is just one factor of why i'm for it. Thet'll otherwiswe without higher education be out let loose on the streets.

gabriella, lawyer (17/01/2007 at 20:28)

i dont think they should most of the kids i know are 16 have jobs and some go to good colleges but they should give an exam and if the kids dont pass they should stay till 18 otherwise 16.

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